Air conditioning control system

ABSTRACT

According to an embodiment, provided is an air conditioning control system having a remote controller which collectively controls air conditioning facilities respectively provided in multiple buildings through a network. A building monitoring and controlling device is provided in each of the buildings. The building monitoring and controlling device monitors an air conditioning facility in a building where the building monitoring and controlling device itself is installed, and transmits operation data on the air conditioning facility to the remote controller. The remote controller calculates each operation setting value based on each set of operation data, and transmits the calculated operation setting value to the building monitoring and controlling device corresponding to the calculated operation setting value. The building monitoring and controlling device which has received the operation setting value controls the air conditioning facility by transmitting the operation setting value to the air conditioning facility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-042961, filed on Feb. 26,2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

An embodiment described herein relates to an air conditioning controlsystem which controls air conditioning in office buildings, departmentstores, residential buildings, and the like.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, environmental load reduction is demanded. For example, CO₂reduction and energy saving are demanded in the field of FacilitySolution. It is known that approximately 50% of energy consumed in abuilding is occupied by energy spent by air conditioning facilities.Therefore, in the field of Facility Solution, an important issue is toreduce energy consumed by air conditioning facilities.

To solve this issue, an air conditioning control system using a comfortindex PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) value has been devised. The comfortindex PMV is an index standardized internationally as ISO-7730, and iscalculated based on the following six parameters: four physicalparameters—(1) temperature, (2)humidity, (3) radiation temperature, (4)air velocity, and two body parameters—(5) amount of clothing worn, (6)amount of activity (metabolic rate).

Such an air conditioning control system can prevent excessive coolingand heating using the calculated comfort index PMV. Accordingly, energyconsumption of the air conditioning facilities is reduced.

Conventionally, control of cooling and heating in habitable rooms oroffices is performed for each building. In addition, an air conditioningcontrol system is installed in the same building where the airconditioning is controlled (refer to JP, PH05-126380A, for example).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioningcontrol system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the air conditioningcontrol system according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An air conditioning control system according to an embodiment includes:a plurality of building monitoring and controlling devices respectivelyinstalled in a plurality of buildings; and a remote controller connectedto the plurality of building monitoring and controlling devices througha communication network. The plurality of building monitoring andcontrolling devices respectively monitor and control a plurality of airconditioning facilities respectively installed in the plurality ofbuildings. The remote controller acquires operation data on the airconditioning facility from each of the plurality of building monitoringand controlling devices through the communication network. The remotecontroller calculates an operation setting value for each airconditioning facility based on the operation data. The remote controllertransmits the operation setting value calculated for the airconditioning facility, through the communication network, to thebuilding monitoring and controlling device monitoring and controllingthe air conditioning facility corresponding to the calculated operationsetting value.

Description will be given below of an embodiment with reference to thedrawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioningcontrol system according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning control system according to theembodiment includes a communication network 1, a remote center 10connected to the communication network 1, and building monitoring andcontrolling devices respectively in buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n.

The communication network 1 is formed by lines capable of communicatingbi-directionally. Here, the communication network 1 is a network such asa LAN and an intranet. However, a different communication network may beused.

The remote center 10 is a management center including a remotecontroller 11 and a router 12. The remote controller 11 collectivelymanages air conditioning facilities 27 a, . . . , 27 n of the multiplebuildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n through the building monitoring andcontrolling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n.

The buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n are respectively provided with thebuilding monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n, the airconditioning facilities 27 a, . . . , 27 n, and the routers 26 a, . . ., 26 n. The air conditioning facilities 27 a, . . . , 27 n respectivelyinclude air conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2, local air conditioningcontrollers 22 a, . . . , 22 n 2, heat source facilities 23 a, . . . ,23 n, and local heat source controllers 24 a, . . . , 24 n. For example,the building 20 a has the air conditioning facility 27 a including theair conditioner 21 a, the local air conditioning controller 22 a, theheat source facility 23 a, and the local heat source controller 24 a.The building 20 n has the air conditioning facility 27 n including theair conditioners 21 n 1, 21 n 2, the local air conditioning controllers22 n 1, 22 n 2, the heat source facility 23 n, and the local heat sourcecontroller 24 n. Each of the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n may have oneset or multiple sets of the air conditioner and local air conditioningcontroller.

Components will be described below.

First, the components of the remote center 10 will be described.

The remote controller 11 collectively controls the air conditioningfacilities 27 a, . . . , 27 n in the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 nthrough the router 12. The remote controller 11 transmits operationsetting values of the air conditioning facilities 27 a, . . . , 27 nrespectively to the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, .. . , 25 n in the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n.

The remote controller 11 can calculate each operation setting valueusing an existing air conditioning control method. The remote controller11 calculates the operation setting value for air conditioning controlusing a comfort index PMV value, for example.

To calculate the comfort index “PMV value,” six parameters are needed,the six parameters being temperature, humidity, radiation temperature,air velocity, amount of clothing worn, amount of activity (metabolicrate). Among these, for the numerical values of air velocity, amount ofclothing worn, amount of activity (metabolic rate), predeterminednumerical values can be used. Note that, the numerical value used foramount of clothing worn may vary depending on a season and a place wherethe air conditioning facility is installed. The radiation temperaturecan be calculated from indoor temperature and outdoor temperature.

In the embodiment, the remote controller 11 periodically acquires theoperation data on temperature and humidity for each of the buildings 20a, . . . , 20 n from the building monitoring and controlling devices 25a, . . . , 25 n through the network 1. Thus, the remote controller 11calculates in real time the “PMV value” for each of the buildings 20 a,. . . , 20 n.

Further, the remote controller 11 calculates temperature and humiditywithin the “PMV value” range of, for example, −0.5 to +0.5 recommendedin ISO-7730 for each of the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n. The calculatedtemperature and humidity is an operation set temperature and operationset humidity. Note that, if a target PMV value is variably set dependingon a season, more energy saving effect can be achieved. For example, insummer, i.e., when cooling, the PMV value is set to +0.5, and in winter,i.e., when heating, the PMV value is set to −0.5.

The remote controller 11 transmits to each of the building monitoringand controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n an operation set temperatureand operation set humidity corresponding to each of the buildingmonitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n as the operationsetting value through the network 1.

In the description above, the remote controller 11 calculates theoperation setting value for each of the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n.However, the remote controller 11 may calculate the operation settingvalue for each zone of the building or the operation setting value foreach floor of the building. In this case, the remote controller 11receives the operation data on each zone of the building or theoperation data on each floor of the building from the corresponding oneof the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n.

The remote controller 11 calculates necessary conditions which minimizethe energy consumption of the air conditioner and the heat sourcefacility under restriction based on the “PMV value”, if required. Theexamples of the conditions are a “supply air temperature” and a“heat-transfer-medium temperature.” Then, the remote controller 11transmits, as the operation setting value, the “supply air temperature”and the “heat-transfer-medium temperature” in addition to the operationset temperature and the operation set humidity to each of the buildingmonitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n of the buildings20 a, . . . , 20 n. Note that the “supply air temperature” istemperature of air discharged from an air discharge of an airconditioner.

The router 12 connects between the remote controller 11 and thecommunication network 1. The router 12 relays communication between thebuilding monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n in thebuildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n and the remote controller 11.

Next, the components provided in the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n willbe described.

Each of the air conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2 has a heat exchangerwhich exchanges heat between a heat transfer medium and air. Whencooling, each of the air conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2 blows aircooled by the heat transfer medium using a fan. When heating, each ofthe air conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2 blows air heated by the heattransfer medium from the blower. The heat transfer medium is water, forexample. If multiple air conditioners are provided in one building, theair conditioners are provided to the floors or zones, respectively.

Each of the heat source facilities 23 a, . . . , 23 n cools or heats theheat transfer medium. Examples of the heat source facilities 23 a, . . ., 23 n are a refrigerator and a heat pump.

Unillustrated pipes are provided between the air conditioners 21 a, . .. , 21 n 2 and the heat source facilities 23 a, . . . , 23 n, and theheat transfer medium circulates in the pipes. Each pipe has a pump tocirculate the heat transfer medium. Thus, the heat transfer media cooledor heated by the heat source facilities 23 a, . . . , 23 n are sent tothe air conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2, and cool or heat air in theair conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2, and then return to the heatsource facilities 23 a, . . . , 23 n. The heat transfer media which havereturned are cooled or heated again, and then sent to the airconditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2.

The local air conditioning controllers 22 a, . . . , 22 n 2 control theair conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2. Each of the local airconditioning controllers 22 a, . . . , 22 n 2 periodically receives theoperation set temperature and the operation set humidity from thecorresponding one of the building monitoring and controlling devices 25a, . . . , 25 n. Each of the local air conditioning controllers 22 a, .. . , 22 n 2 controls the power of the corresponding air conditioners 21a, . . . , 21 n 2 so that a indoor temperature and a indoor humidityreach the operation set temperature and the operation set humidity. Eachof the local air conditioning controllers 22 a, . . . , 22 n 2 adjuststhe amount of air blown from the blower by adjusting the rotating speedof the fan, for example. Thus, the indoor temperature is adjusted.Moreover, dehumidification is performed by once lowering air temperaturein the air conditioner so that the water vapor is condensed into dew andby then raising the air temperature.

In order to set the indoor temperature to 18° C. for example, each ofthe building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 ninputs the set temperature of 18° C. to each corresponding one of thelocal air conditioning controllers 22 a, . . . , 22 n 2.

Moreover, each of the local air conditioning controllers 22 a, . . . ,22 n 2 measures the indoor temperature, the indoor humidity and theoutdoor temperature, and periodically transmits the measuredtemperatures and humidity as the operation data to the corresponding oneof the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n.

The local heat source controllers 24 a, . . . , 24 n control the heatsource facilities 23 a, . . . , 23 n. Each of the local heat sourcecontrollers 24 a, . . . , 24 n, as necessary, periodically receives theoperation set temperature of the heat transfer medium (hereinafter,referred to as operation set heat-transfer-medium temperature). Each ofthe local heat source controllers 24 a, . . . , 24 n controls the powerof the corresponding one of the heat source facilities 23 a, . . . , 23n so that the heat-transfer-medium temperature reaches the operation setheat-transfer-medium temperature.

In order to set the heat-transfer-medium temperature to 7° C. forexample, each of the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, .. . , 25 n inputs the set heat-transfer-medium temperature of 7° C. tothe corresponding one of the local heat source controllers 24 a, . . . ,24 n. The heat transfer media cooled by the heat source facilities 23 a,. . . , 23 n are used for cool air at the air conditioners 21 a, . . . ,21 n 2. The heat transfer media heated by the heat source facilities 23a, . . . , 23 n are used for warm air at the air conditioners 21 a, . .. , 21 n 2.

Each of the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25n receives the operation set temperature value, the operation sethumidity value, and the like which are the operation setting valuetransmitted from the remote controller 11. Each of the buildingmonitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n transmits theoperation set temperature value, the operation set humidity value, andthe like which have been received to a corresponding one of the localair conditioning controllers 22 a, . . . , 22 n. In addition, each ofthe building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 nreceives an operation set heat-transfer-medium temperature valuetransmitted from the remote controller 11. Here, each of the buildingmonitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n transmits thereceived operation set heat-transfer-medium temperature value to thecorresponding one of the local heat source controllers 24 a, . . . , 24n.

In addition, the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . ., 25 n periodically collect the operation data on the air conditioners21 a, . . . , 21 n 2 from the local air conditioning controllers 22 a, .. . , 22 n 2, respectively. Specifically, each of the buildingmonitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n receives theindoor temperature, the indoor humidity and the outdoor temperatureperiodically transmitted from the corresponding one of the local airconditioning controllers 22 a, . . . , 22 n 2. Then each of the buildingmonitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n periodicallytransmits the received operation data to the remote controller 11through the network 1.

Each of the routers 26 a, . . . , 26 n connects between thecorresponding one of the building monitoring and controlling devices 25a, . . . , 25 n and the communication network 1. Each of the routers 26a, . . . , 26 n relays communication between the corresponding one ofthe building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n andthe remote controller 11.

Next, an operation of the embodiment will be described with reference toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows an operation of the air conditioning control systemaccording to the embodiment.

The remote controller 11 in the remote center 10 collects the operationdata on the air conditioning facilities 27 a, . . . , 27 n at a constantfrequency from the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . .. , 25 n of the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n (Step 401). The operationdata are needed to calculate the “PMV value” in real time. The operationdata are temperature, humidity and outdoor temperature as describedabove.

The remote controller 11 checks if the collected operation data arenormally received (Step 402). If the operation data is not normallyreceived (Step 402-NO), the remote controller 11 collects the operationdata again. When the operation data are collected again, the number oftimes at which the data are collected may be limited to the presetnumber of times.

The remote controller 11 calculates the “PMV value” for each of thebuildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n based on the operation data transmittedfrom the building monitoring and controlling devices 25 a, . . . , 25 n,preset values to calculate the “PMV value,” and the like. In addition,the remote controller 11 calculates, from the calculated PMV value, theoperation setting value to enable obtaining a predetermined PMV value(Step 403).

The predetermined “PMV value” is between −0.5 and +0.5, for example.Temperature and humidity which allow the PMV value to be within thisrange are calculated. The calculated temperature is referred to as theoperation set temperature, and the calculated humidity is referred to asthe operation set humidity.

Further, if the energy consumption of the entire air conditioning systemis requested to be minimized, the remote controller 11 calculates, asthe operation setting value, the “supply air temperature,” the“heat-transfer-medium temperature,” and the like which minimize the sumof the powers of the air conditioners 21 a, . . . , 21 n 2 and heatsource facilities 23 a, . . . , 23 n and the power consumption of thepumps which circulate the heat transfer medium.

The remote controller 11 transmits the operation setting valuecalculated for each of the buildings 20 a, . . . , 20 n to thecorresponding one of the building monitoring and controlling devices 25a, . . . , 25 n (Step 404). The number of transmissions between theremote controller 11 and the building monitoring and controlling devices25 a, . . . , 25 n may be limited for the purpose of failure avoidanceand the like.

The building monitoring and controlling device 25 a receives theoperation setting value transmitted from the remote controller 11. Theoperation setting value includes the operation set temperature andoperation set humidity of the air conditioner 21 a, the operation setheat-transfer-medium temperature of the heat source facilities 23 a, andthe like. The building monitoring and controlling device 25 a transmitsthe operation setting value to the air conditioning facility 27 a.Specifically, the building monitoring and controlling device 25 atransmits the operation set temperature and the operation set humidityto the local air conditioning controller 22 a, and transmits theoperation set heat-transfer-medium temperature to the local heat sourcecontroller 24 a. Accordingly, the local air conditioning controller 22 aperforms set value control and power control of the air conditioner 21a, and the local heat source controller 24 a performs set value controland power control of the heat source facility 23 a (Step 405).

Other building monitoring and controlling devices operate in the samemanner as the building monitoring and controlling device 25 a. Forexample, the building monitoring and controlling device 25 n receivesthe operation setting value transmitted from the remote controller 11.Then the building monitoring and controlling device 25 n transmits theoperation setting value to the air conditioning facility 27 n.Specifically, the building monitoring and controlling device 25 ntransmits the operation set temperature and the operation set humidityto the local air conditioning controllers 22 n 1, 22 n 2, and transmitsthe operation set heat-transfer-medium temperature to the local heatsource controller 24 n. Accordingly, the local air conditioningcontroller 22 n 1 performs set value control and power control of theair conditioner 21 n 1, the local air conditioning controller 22 n 2performs set value control and power control of the air conditioner 21 n2, and the local heat source controller 24 n performs set value controland power control of the heat source facility 23 n (Step 405).

After that, the operation of Step 401 to 405 is repeated in accordancewith the surrounding environment which changes over time.

As described above, according to the embodiment, the remote controllercollectively calculates the operation setting value for the airconditioning facility for each building. For this reason, the embodimentallows to reduce the number of units to calculate the operation settingvalues compared with the case where the units to calculate the operationsetting values are provided in the buildings, respectively. In addition,according to the embodiment, the building monitoring and controllingdevice is provided in each building, whereby the air conditioningcontrol system can be provided at a low cost compared with the casewhere the units to calculate the operation setting values are providedin the buildings, respectively. Hence, according to the embodiment, anair conditioning control system which enables reducing the introductioncost and the maintenance cost is obtained.

Therefore, according to the invention, an air conditioning controlsystem which enables reducing the introduction cost and the maintenancecost can be provided.

While description has been given of an embodiment of the invention, theembodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit thescope of the invention. The embodiment, which is novel, is capable ofbeing carried out in various other arrangements, and various omissions,replacements, or modifications, can be made without departing from thegist of the invention.

For example, a function of the building monitoring and controllingdevice may be added to one of the multiple local controllers (local airconditioning controller or local heat source controller).

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. A building controlling device used for controllingan air conditioning facility and managed by a remote controller, thebuilding controlling device comprising: means for receiving operationdata on the air conditioning facility periodically from the airconditioning facility; means for transmitting the received operationdata periodically to the remote controller; means for receiving anoperation setting value for the air conditioning facility from theremote controller; and means for transmitting the received operationsetting value to the air conditioning facility; wherein the remotecontroller: acquires the operation data on the air conditioning facilityfrom the building controlling device, calculates the operation settingvalue for the air conditioning facility based on the operation data, andtransmits the operation setting value periodically to the buildingcontrolling device.
 11. The building controlling device according toclaim 10, wherein the operation data includes temperature and humidity.12. The building controlling device according to claim 10, wherein theoperation setting value includes an operation set temperature and anoperation set humidity.
 13. A remote controller to manage at least onebuilding controlling device used for controlling an air conditioningfacility, the remote controller comprising: means for acquiringoperation data on an air conditioning facility from the buildingcontrolling device; means for calculating an operation setting value forthe air conditioning facility based on the operation data; and means fortransmitting the operation setting value periodically to the buildingcontrolling device; wherein the building controlling device: receivesthe operation data on the air conditioning facility periodically fromthe air conditioning facility; transmits the received operation dataperiodically to the remote controller; receives the operation settingvalue for the air conditioning facility from the remote controller; andtransmits the received operation setting value to the air conditioningfacility.
 14. The remote controller according to claim 13, wherein theoperation data includes temperature and humidity.
 15. The remotecontroller according to claim 14, wherein the operation setting valueincludes an operation set temperature and an operation set humidity. 16.The remote controller according to claim 13, wherein the operation dataincludes temperature, humidity and outdoor temperature, and the meansfor calculating an operation setting value calculates the operationsetting value using a comfort index PMV.